Barangay Ginebra San Miguel survived a close call to open their PLDT
Home TVolution PBA Commissioner’s Cup campaign as they escaped a tough
Barako Bull squad, 108-104, in overtime on Friday at the SMART-Araneta
Coliseum.

Import Leon Rodgers and Chris Ellis hit clutch baskets in regulation
as Ginebra came back to force overtime before sealing the deal in a very
close extra period as they joined Air 21, Talk ‘N Text and San Miguel
Beer in the winning column.

Rodgers led the way with 31 points and eight rebounds while Ellis
scored 17 markers to lead three other Ginebra locals in double figures.

LA Tenorio, meanwhile, flirted with a triple-double after notching nine points and team-highs of nine rebounds and 14 assists.

The Gin Kings trailed by five points, 93-88, with under three minutes
left in regulation after Barako Bull reinforcement Joshua Dollard hit a
three-pointer to hit the 40-point mark in his debut game.

But Rodgers brought Ginebra within striking distance with a basket.
Ellis then knocked down a three-pointer with just seven ticks left on
the clock and Barako Bull’s Carlo Lastimosa missed a shot at the buzzer.

In the overtime, Dollard tried to keep the Energy Cola in the game,
scoring five of the team’s first eight points. Unfortunately, the
reinforcement fouled out of the game with 1:26 remaining and Barako Bull
trailing, 103-101.

After Japeth Aguilar and Mick Pennisi traded splits from the charity
stripe, Rodgers added another free throw off of a technical foul on
Barako Bull for calling a timeout they no longer had to make it 105-102.

Willy Wilson responded with a quick counter on the other end, but
Penissi used his last foul on Rodgers, who knocked down two more free
throws, 107-104, and Tenorio added another with only three seconds left
just for good measure.

Dollard had a big game with 45 points, 18 rebounds and four blocks
while Pennisi led the Barako Bull locals with 12 points. Both Dollard
and Pennisi fouled out in the overtime period.

Rookie Carlo Lastimosa was the only other player in double figures for the Energy Cola. He finished with 10.

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